Derby

Derby's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Derby increased by 12%, from just under 222,000 to 249,000.

The addition of just over 27,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Derby was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Derby

Latest census data also show that the median age of Derby remained 36 years in the decade to 2011.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 8,300 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 900.

About 14% of people in Derby are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Derby by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Derby

Derby saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, about 1 in 16 (6.3%) in Derby reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.4% to 4.0%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 5.7% to 4.7%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Derby saw the East Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households in Derby had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 61% to 60%.

Across the region, only Boston saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with children (from 26% to 28%).

During this period, Derby overtook 12 local authority areas, including High Peak and Ashfield, to become the East Midlands local authority area with the third-highest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Derby

Derby saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) people aged 16 and over in Derby said they were single, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 50% to 45%.

Across the region, only Lincoln (from 34% to 44%) and Nottingham (from 44% to 51%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Derby

The number of people in Derby that described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 10,000 in 2001 to just over 19,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.5% to 7.6% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 1.8% to 3.4%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Derby that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 150,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011 (from 67% to 53%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 35,000 to about 69,000 (from 16% to 28%).

About 17,000 people (7.9%) did not state their religion, similar to the amount in 2001 (which at the time represented 6.8%)

The population who identified as Muslim in Derby increased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Derby by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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